Portable Dehumidifiers: A Winter Lifesaver for Landlords

As winter sets in, many landlords brace themselves for the annual battle against damp, condensation, and black mould. But there's a surprisingly simple solution that could save you and your tenants a lot of hassle: small portable dehumidifiers. 

Tackling Condensation the Easy Way

Condensation is one of the most common complaints in rental properties during the colder months. Tenants drying clothes indoors, poor ventilation, and fluctuating temperatures all contribute to excess moisture. A compact dehumidifier can make a huge difference.

Take, for example, a 300w model currently available at Screwfix. Priced at around £95, it claims to extract up to 12 litres of water per day. While that figure may be optimistic, in practice it's more than capable of keeping a room — or even a small house — comfortably dry.

The beauty of these devices is their simplicity. Hand one to your tenants, show them how to use it, and watch the condensation disappear. Clothes can even be dried on radiators without the dreaded damp smell or mould patches forming. 

Practical Considerations

Are They Expensive To Run?

 Here's the pleasant surprise: they're not.

• Dry air feels warmer than damp air, meaning tenants will naturally use less central heating.
• Dehumidifiers don't run at full power all the time. They cycle between high power and standby once the target humidity is reached.
• In a recent test on the model described above, the unit drew 190w on full power and just 20w on standby. Over 24 hours, that worked out to around 40p of electricity. Even at full power all day, the cost would be about £1.50.

The Bonus: Free Heat

 Here's the kicker: dehumidifiers don't just remove moisture — they also give out heat. In fact, they release roughly twice the amount of heat energy as they consume in electricity.

This isn't magic; it's physics. By harnessing the latent heat of vaporisation, dehumidifiers act in a similar way to a heat pump. The result? A device that can effectively run at net zero cost, because the warmth it generates offsets heating bills.

Why Landlords Should Care

 For landlords, the benefits are clear:

• Happier tenants: Warm, dry homes are healthier and more comfortable.
• Reduced maintenance: Less mould means fewer complaints and lower repair costs.
• Energy efficiency: Lower heating demand helps tenants manage bills, reducing arrears risk.

As the season of damp approaches, investing in a few portable dehumidifiers could be one of the smartest moves you make. Affordable, effective, and tenant-friendly, they're a small step that delivers big rewards.